Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Dandelion Wine

Our first challenge is in for Twelve by Twelve. The theme word was Dandelion. I tried drawings of dandelion flowers and seed heads, but I wasn't happy with any of them. I instead went with the color, Yellow. I searched high and low for yellow embellishments and just kept adding them until I ran out of time. I'm not sure I could find much more. They include: Yellow cotton fabric, yarns, glass and seed beads, brads, artificial flowers, raffia, wire, embroidery floss, metallic thread, ribbon, and buttons. There may be more if you look hard enough. I had a lot of fun adding everything, but I don't think this is a path I will go down often. Often when I asked my husband what he thought of the piece I got a strange look. At an early point he said it looked like the seventies. I don't think you can even see the swirls of needle felted yarn anymore though. My daughters have a better appreciation of over embellishment. The under eight crowd thinks anything with a little sparkle is beautiful.
My original thought for the compostion was a yellow river with fields of flowers on either side. I added the beaded river, but probably could have used more large glass beads. I used all I had and didn't want to spend more money. It then turned more into a wetland with the bits of raffia poking up. The fake flowers, button and ribbons are the fields of flowers on either side.
I lost track a bit of the dandelion theme. I had the impression that everyone else was taking a more literal approach to the topic. Finally, I decided that the title "Dandelion Wine" fit the piece. My great-grandmother would tell of making dandelion wine when she was young. The piece looks somewhat like the craziness of having too much wine.
You can check out all our Dandelion Quilts on the Twelve by Twelve blog.

15 comments:

Lynn Majidimehr said...

Nikki, I love all the texture in your dandelion quilt, it's beautiful!

Doreen G said...

What amazing texture you have built up in your quilt Nikki--I have been admireing some of the other quilts as they have appeared but I think yours really appeals to me.Well done.

Sandra Wyman said...

Really love this - such a rich texture. Have also been really impressed with the other dandelion quilts. And thanks for your comment on my JQ!

Dale Anne Potter said...

Nikki - This is FABULOUS!
I LOVE all the tones of yellow you used and all the different mediums.
GREAT JOB!!!

and THANKS for visiting my blog!

Vicki W said...

I really like this one! All of the entries were great but this one really appealed to me.

Angela said...

Nikki this is just spectacular. I just LOVE your interpretation of the theme. All of the dandelion pieces are great and so different but I think all of the texture on yours makes this piece really stand out. you must be very proud to have created something so beautiful!

Susan Lenz said...

Hi!
I think your piece is wonderful. It captures an essence of a dandelion in an unexpected way. There is, of course, the happy yellow color but with the light-hearted feel one experiences when blowing the later, white bits of pollen into the wind. No wonder the kids like it!
Susan
PS Thanks for your comments on my blog. I might have accidentally created a few postcards yesterday...an unexpected turn in an experiment!

Unknown said...

This is just delicious - wish I was part of hte group!

Suzanne Earley said...

I have enjoyed seeing all of the dandelion quilts, and have really liked all of the different interpretations, but yours is the one that really made me gasp. Love it.

Betsy True said...

Nikki, this is incredible! I think this is my favorite of the Twelve by Twelve quilts. When I look at it, I see a mass of dandelions!

Sandra said...

A-choo! Great job. I feel like I've been shrunk down to a teeny pixie and woken up in the middle of a field of dandelions.
I think you've given Frances Holliday Alford a run for her money and that is high praise in the embellishment world.

Thanks for visiting/commenting on my blog.

Lisa Ellis said...

Nikki -this is amazing! I love the texture. Your use of embellishments is incredible.

katie said...

beautiful! yellow is my favorite color, and the texture makes this piece so touchable and interesting.

thanks for your vistit and kind comment on my blog.

Joanna said...

This is really lovely. The texture is brilliant.

Beverly said...

Wow, I wondered who did this one when I saw it on the 12 by 12 blog! Fantastic texture, it immediately brings to my mind a huge field of dandelions. I found it fascinating that one little weed could be interpreted so many different ways. Can't wait to see your chocolate piece!

Thanks for taking a look at my blog--